Have your say: Consultation on social investment and dormant assets
With the publication of the Dormant Assets Strategy, it has been confirmed that Access - the Foundation for Social Investment will receive £87.5 million to grow social investment in underserved places and communities.
This includes:
- At least £12.5 million earmarked to support youth-focused organisations
- £12 million of scale-up funding for a Black and Ethnically Minoritised-led social investment fund, Pathway Fund.
Access will oversee the allocation of £87.5 million of dormant assets funding to social investment, working closely with partners to deliver on the Dormant Assets Strategy and the aspirations set out in the Community Enterprise Growth Plan (CEGP).
The CEGP seeks to maximise investment in community enterprises and mission-driven businesses, particularly in the places and communities most affected by long-term economic decline.
Why Access are consulting
The £87.5 million allocated to Access will be used to support the delivery of the Community Enterprise Growth Plan (CEGP). Before they finalise how the dormant assets funding will be distributed, we are launching a short consultation. This will help them shape their Investment Policy and application processes.
The consultation will run for 6 weeks and will close at midday on Tuesday 15 July, gathering views from across the social investment market, the VCSE sector, and other interested stakeholders.
Your feedback will help ensure the funding is used in the most effective and inclusive way.
How to get involved
Access are inviting input from across the social investment, social enterprise, civil society and philanthropic sectors to help shape the next phase of Dormant Assets funding.
Here is how you can get involved:
1. Read their Investment Approach
As part of this consultation, they’ve published two key documents:
- Investment Approach – a detailed version, set out in numbered sections to make it easier to respond.
- A shorter version of the Investment Approach – a shorter version of the same document, with two sections on application processes removed. This may be more relevant for those who don’t plan to apply directly to Access for funding.
They are encourage you to read one of these documents before attending a webinar or submitting feedback.
2. Join a webinar
Access are hosting two webinars to talk through the Investment Approach and answer your questions. These sessions are open to all and offer a chance to ask questions anonymously.
One webinar will be recorded and shared on our website. Questions submitted and answered will also be posted to the consultation page on our website.
To attend please register via the links below:
3. Respond to the consultation
The deadline for responses is midday on Tuesday 15 July 2025
Access have also published a Consultation Response template to help you structure your feedback. Use of the template is optional—you're welcome to respond in any format.
Respond to the consultation: https://access-socialinvestment.org.uk/what-we-do/consultation
